Tied together with a smile (Open)

[Rinae Bathsheba Renalt]

Rinae Bathsheba Renalt was a complicated woman, her husband could attest to that. Just when you thought you had her all figured out, she changed the game on you. Everyone, including Lucian seemed to underestimate her. She had a lot of good and bad qualities but she wanted to be accepted for who she was. She didn't give respect where it wasn't earned and she hoped people knew that. What was the point? Well, if you didn't respect who she was, she could make your life a living hell. She, however, wasn't as vindictive as everyone thought. There was a soft side to her that very few people saw. She made it a point never to show her weakness to anyone, unless she really trusted them. Trust was everything and it didn't come easily, it had to be earned as well, and most people weren't willing to work for it. That was how she was raised after all. She was the only daughter of the King's General, he had more influence in her life than even he knew. She was disobedient at times but she always gave in at the end because she knew everything he did was in her best interest. He always loved her father for that.

Her mother was a lot different than her father and Rin always wondered how they could stand eachother sometimes. Her parents were and still are very much in love. Her mother is a very proud woman, she doesn't think like her father. Her mother believed that emotions were not a weakness and only there to let you know you're alive, even though they weren't alive. Not all vampires had emotions, it was very unlikely, but her mother didn't think it was a weakness. Her mother was the most kind and selfless woman she knew, she didn't mind hunting but she didn't like to kill unless she had to. Rin was more like her father, she enjoyed the hunt and relished in the kill.

The only person who ever saw her true self was her daughter. While it was still a mystery who Ari's father was, Lucian didn't know and Rin never wanted him to find out. To tell the truth, Rin didn't even know if Lucian was her father because she had engaged in an affair while her and Lucian were courting. She was still ashamed of this and she would do anything to keep her secret. She would even keep the secret of who the affair was with and she would never say his name aloud. She loved her husband, she knew she'd made a mistake but wasn't sure if he would see it that way. Especially if he found out who it was with, it even shocked her, and she couldn't risk it. She could never tell him. She hadn't confided in anyone but she still felt guilty and she wondered what would happen if she ever told him. She wondered this a lot and the fear of losing him was more overwhelming than her guilt.

Tagged; Open
Notes; this should be fun
outfit; click!
credit to dirty mercury @ caution 2.0
Status; Unfinished
Muse; Paramore
Song lyrics; Blessed with a curse - Bring me the Horizon
Credit; Ange]@Caution 2.0 Steal, and I will find you and undoubtedly eat your soul.

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[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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While she couldn't tell exactly what was bothering Rin she could sense some unease in the woman and approached quietly. There was a sense of guilt there. Something that made Mari internally raise an eyebrow. It wouldn't do to have her head of the Guard feeling guilty about something, too easy to be used as blackmail if someone found out. She silently moved into the courtyard the way that her fellow vampires did, steps light and none wasted.

When she got close enough not to be hurt she rapped on the side of the building, "A gold for your thoughts, Rinae." she called out as she smiled warmly and approached the other woman, "Your face looks so grim I fear it may crack. Surely the plots for my death aren't that dire." she teased lightly as she made her way closer to her guardsman. It was a sign of how used to things she'd gotten that she found herself thinking back before Katia's birth. Rin had been there. She wasn't sure how much she knew but she had to have seen the King muttering about spells and such in the years before they had concieved their daughter.

Mari felt a twinge of sadness and turned away, looking down. She'd lost everything. All she had was a kingdom of people that weren't even the same species as herself. She had her son, and in that she was blessed but she knew she could not cling to him forever. Soon he would reach his majority and not need her. She would be the Queen Mother and while that secured her with a place of honor it still meant she was a widow and very much alone.

Gently she reached out and touched a rose that grew on one of the bushes they were next to. These were wild and not the delicate ones of her garden. She gestured for some servants to take a clipping so she could use it for cross breeding.

She sighed softly and blinked to keep her mind clear. She had to focus on what was eating at Rin. If the captain of her Guard was compromised they would all die. This wasn't fanciful imaginings but truth. Lucien was keeping an eye on her son but he was not ready to rule just yet.

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[Rinae Bathsheba Renalt]

Rin was aware how her guilt was making her feel. However, she was not aware that she was letting it show. She needed to quit worrying so much and try to enjoy herself. That was hard with everything that was going on and everyone was always busy. She was trying to distract herself with training but it wasn't helping much. Her training was effortless because her heart wasn't in it and her mind was elsewhere yet she continued to. She couldn't afford to give up, as much as she wanted to sometimes. She held the sword in her right hand, making sure that she didn't make one mistake, as she tried to make training her priority.

"Your majesty," she said as she heard Mari step behind her, "It's nothing for you to be worried about." She didn't plan on divulging anything tonight, even to her. She knew she could trust the Queen but she didn't want anyone to know her secret because they would surely use it against her. She was sure there were several who would use this information to get between her and her husband. Her marriage was the best thing to happen to her and she couldn't have anything ruining it.

Tagged; Mari
Notes; this should be fun
outfit; click!
credit to dirty mercury @ caution 2.0
Status; Unfinished
Muse; Paramore
Song lyrics; Blessed with a curse - Bring me the Horizon
Credit; Ange]@Caution 2.0 Steal, and I will find you and undoubtedly eat your soul.

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[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Mari eyed the Captain of her Guard, her focus on the woman intense as her brown eyes surveyed the other woman. She was a walking guilt ball, "Walk with me, Rinae?" she said gently as she stepped away from the crowd and into the courtyard. It wasn't like Rinae got a choice, but Marina tried hard to make it seem like she did. They wove their way past statues and weeping willows as Mari began to think how best to word how she felt.

"Rinae, if something is bothering you, if you have a secret to hide and its eating at you. You'd do well to confess it. Jon will pry it out of you. And with how guilty you're feeling he's likely to do it sooner rather than later." she said simply as she paused and regarded another rose bush. "Likewise, Angelique is no stranger to telepathy. Simply put, there are few secrets within the royal house that are unknown. The times are turbulent and while I understand that things pray on the mind at inoppertune times, if you're not willing to reveal them, its best to not think too hard on them. I'm an empath, I can't pick up exact thoughts, but I can tell you are guilty of some wrong."

Inwardly Mari sighed, she did not doubt that in these times the scrambling for position was worse. People felt insecure and wanted to know they would be protected and so they schemed to get into the Queen's guard and the King's Guard. "It might be better for you to tell me what is praying on your mind. If I know I can potentially stop the fallout from occurring."
Mari looked her guardswoman in the eyes, "What could be so bad that you feel guilty? Is it something you are still doing?" she asked her.

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[Rinae Bathsheba Renalt]

Rin could read the Queen's mind, though she tried not to as much as possible, and she understood why Mari felt the way she did. Rin agreed, she knew if anyone picked it out of her head that they would surely use it against her. She reasoned that maybe she should have told her husband a long time ago, that was the only reason she felt even the least bit of guilt. She made it a point not to look Mari directly in the eyes. She knew out of everyone, she could not hide her feelings from the Queen. This was not necessarily a good thing because she didn't want anyone to see it as a sign of weakness. Her father had taught her well, that was why she bottled up her emotions and showed them to nobody. She started to walk beside Mari, putting her sword in it's sheath. She found it was always good to be armed, that you couldn't trust many and there was danger everywhere. Still not looking at her directly, she said, "Yes, your majesty."

She listened intently as Mari spoke, even though somehow she knew what she was going to say. She did agree but it was still hard. She wondered what Mari would think, if she would judge her, and if she could trust her not to tell anyone. She knew she had to tell her husband but it had to be at the right time and now was not the time. It was busy at the castle and everyone was scrambling about their lives. She felt a little insignificant, she had to admit.

Rin knew she was right and Mari made some convincing points. She trusted Jon even less than Angelique and she knew both of them would do anything possible to get a leg up. They were both sneaky and conniving, if she had it her way she would dispose of them properly. However, she could not do so. She had her reasons for keeping the secret but now it was far too dangerous to keep something like that to herself or even from her husband and she knew quite well that if anyone found out that she wouldn't be trusted any longer.

She thought about it some more, she knew Mari was right, and she took a deep breath. "No, your majesty, it happened years ago," she said with a sigh, "Before Lucian and I were married, I had an affair." She felt relieved as soon as the words came out of her mouth. She had a million thoughts running through her head and she felt the guilt just wash away from her. She looked down at the ground, afraid of what the Queen would think or say. She hoped that Mari wouldn't be harsh on her. She had enough guilt for sixteen years, she didn't need another ounce of it. She was glad she had told someone but she didn't want to be judged for making that one mistake. She had devoted herself to her husband and daughter for sixteen years and that was good enough for her.

Tagged; Mari
Notes; this should be fun
outfit; click!
credit to dirty mercury @ caution 2.0
Status; Unfinished
Muse; Paramore
Song lyrics; Blessed with a curse - Bring me the Horizon
Credit; Ange]@Caution 2.0 Steal, and I will find you and undoubtedly eat your soul.

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[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Mari walked besides her guard and watched as the wind blew slightly, She saw the conflict on the other woman's face and understood it. To live to the life of the head of the guard was hard and difficult and it could be hard to live up to such an exhausting standard. Mari watched off in the distance to give the other woman time to collect herself. She knew it sometimes took a while to gather the nerve to say something in such times as these.

Mari looked at the other woman sympathetically. She knew it was hard to always keep to the letter of the law with regards to marriage for vampires because their natures were often so impulsive, "Who did you have the affair with?" she asked gently as she looked at the other woman "I'm not going to judge you, Rinae. Everyone has things in their past. Its not my place to make a judgement about it." she said gently. She worried for her but she knew the only way to protect her was to know what was bothering her. "You are not just the head of my guard you are my friend. I know that is sappy and sentimental but you and Lucien helped me raise my son and I am grateful for that."

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[Rinae Bathsheba Renalt]

Rin felt her guilt wash away as soon as the words slipped out of her mouth. She felt relieved and she sighed in relief. She had been so afraid for so long but just confessing this secret to one person had made it so much easier. She still dreaded telling Lucian, especially since Ari could perhaps not be his. Rin had seen the signs and she was afraid that her daughter wasn't as normal as she appeared. Rin winced at the thought but she couldn't pretend the thought hadn't crossed her mind. If she was a hybrid, they would find out soon enough. Rin could not help but be afraid but she tried to hide this as best she could.

Rin knew her life as Head of the Guard was hard enough without adding the extra stress of a secret like this. It really did help to tell someone. She felt so much better but she still wanted to tell Lucian, when the time was right. He would overreact, she knew that, and suddenly it did not seem like the best idea. She knew she had to but it made her even more afraid. She listened as the Queen spoke, asking her about the affair. She knew she had to tell her because she was being so understanding. She knew she'd never told Lucian because she was scared of losing him but how would he feel if he knew the whole truth? Because Rin was about 80% certain that Arianna wasn't his daughter and that just made it harder.

"His name is Jonah, I met him long ago and we shared a brief time together," she told Mari, "He is a Warlock." She felt like the more she talked about it, the better she would feel. She was right. She felt so much better already. She didn't say that she thought that he was Ari's real father but she didn't really feel the need to divulge everything about her past at that moment.

Tagged; Mari
Notes; so many feels
outfit; click!
credit to dirty mercury @ caution 2.0
Status; Unfinished
Muse; Paramore
Song lyrics; Blessed with a curse - Bring me the Horizon
Credit; Ange]@Caution 2.0 Steal, and I will find you and undoubtedly eat your soul.

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[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Mari listened and used her other senses to get a feel for what her captain of the guard was going through. Tilting her head she furrowed her brow, "If it was before you were married how can he protest? Were you betrothed?" she asked gently. She never understood how Vampires could get so caught up in their pairings the way they did. Not that she had ever cheated, she had never even contemplated it, but the sheer anger they could have towards someone for something they did before they were wed confused her.

"I could see him being upset if it was during your marriage but even widows remarry. Your pre-marital state should not be held against you unless you do something against your husband's house and you know that as well as I. I just can't see you putting the Renalt House into Chaos with your actions prior to your wedding. Its not something that can even hold up in a court of law."

She thought and shook her head before turning, "I don't think this is anything to worry about Rinae. Youthful love happens and if one of those old codgers says any different I'll point out that plenty of them got experience from somewhere and I doubt it was from their wives." she said with an impish smile and a wink. "Marriage is a commitment that one enters into but prior to that to my mind you should be given freedom to see if its what you truly want."

"Dameon's rules were designed to make sure that the Houses didn't breed each other out of existence by foul means. In the beginning, prior to your birth, Houses literally tried to breed each other to extinction. Bed hopping was common and legitimacy was hard to determine. Duels and battles were rampant. He laid the law down to stop the bloodshed but too many use it to still end the life of those who are unhappy in their marriages. It just goes to show you that any law can be abused." she shook her head sadly and folded her hands in front of her as she waited to see Rinae's reaction.

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[Rinae Bathsheba Renalt]

"Yes, but what difference does that make?" she asked, not understanding anything at the moment. She was a little out of sorts, which was unlike her. Usually she was very calm and collected. She was just afraid, she didn't want anything bad to happen.

She understood now that it was ridiculous to be afrraid or worried. Then why was she still? Somehow Mari's words had rang true but Rin still felt this huge knot in her stomach. She shrugged it off and decided to try to stop worrying. "I understand, your highness, I was just scared of what Lucian might do. I don't know what I would do without him." Rin smiled and sighed, looking back at Mari.

Tagged; Mari
Notes; sorry so short
outfit; click!
credit to dirty mercury @ caution 2.0
Status; Unfinished
Muse; Paramore
Song lyrics; Blessed with a curse - Bring me the Horizon
Credit; Ange]@Caution 2.0 Steal, and I will find you and undoubtedly eat your soul.

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[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Mari felt a headache starting to form, "Rinae you were betrothed. That is an oath to your spouse that you will take no other to your bed. The fact that you did means you broke a law. You risk shaming your husband. Why would you sleep with another AFTER you were betrothed? You put the legitimacy of your child in jepordy. If she is a hybrid it will come out."

She exhaled, "Rinae, you are two hundred years old. You entered into a binding contract with Lucien. If you didn't want to marry him or didn't love him you should not have agreed to the betrothal. He has every right to be angry at you for this and leave you. I don't know if he WILL, but how would you like it if he knocked up some stranger and then tried to pass the baby off as more legitimate than your daughter?"

She exhaled, "If the roles were reversed and he kept a woman on the side and had a child by her you would be publically shamed and humiliated. You would probably be upset and rightly so. The best thing you can hope for is to be upfront and honest with Lucien before one of your enemies finds out and uses it to have you removed from the guard because of a question of loyalty. This isn't just a case of "I had a fling BEFORE I was betrothed. This is during a betrothal and thus puts your marriage in jepordy. If Lucien has any other females vying for his attention they have every right to press for it."

Mari sighed. "Talk to your husband. Explain to him what happened before this gets out because if you don't and you put it off it will ruin your family."

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[Rinae Bathsheba Renalt]

Rinae knew that Mari was right. She knew what she had to do and she couldn't put it off any longer. She would tell her husband as soon as possible, before anything bad happened. She had a bad feeling, she felt ashamed and full of sorrow. She hadn't thought about it in that way but she knew that Mari was right. She never meant for anything to happen and she did love her husband. Sometimes things happened that no one could explain or even try to justify. She certainly did not have an explanation for the questions that were now forming in her head.

She'd made it a point in the last sixteen years to pretend it never happened. She didn't even know what to say. So, she just sat there looking down at the ground. She listened to everything Mari had to say. She knew what she had to do and why she had to do it, but mostly she knew exactly what was at stake and that was what scared her. This was a new emotion for Rin, who tried her best not to show any emotion at all.

She hoped that Mari would understand and not judge her. She couldn't stand it if the Queen hated her or looked at her differently. "I know," she said quietly, still looking at the ground. She felt terrible and at that moment, she just wanted to get away. "I have to train," she said finally, looking up at her friend, trying to distract herself from the emotions now reeling inside her.

Tagged; Mari
Notes; sorry so short
outfit; click!
credit to dirty mercury @ caution 2.0
Status; Unfinished
Muse; Paramore
Song lyrics; Blessed with a curse - Bring me the Horizon
Credit; Ange]@Caution 2.0 Steal, and I will find you and undoubtedly eat your soul.

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[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Marina just wanted to scream. She hated intrigues in her home and yet she knew they were unavoidable. She knew better than anyone how alliances were made and broken and for not the first time, she felt the walls closing in. "Go, Rin." she nodded gently. All of her life she had had to deal with intrigues and lies and she knew it wouldn't stop but still, she wanted to find some peace in her relm somewhere instead of this conflict and the love triangles that seemed to forever circle the castle.

Half the "love" these people felt wasn't even real. It was loving who they thought someone was not loving them for who they were in spite of it. She felt her head begin to ache and she went back into her castle to rest. Nothing she could say would matter once Rin had made her mind up anyway. It was a secret she alone needed to keep or tell and only the heavens and Rin knew what she would do in the end.

Mari felt out of place. The heavens had condemned her daughter to the underworld for all eternity. She had one grown son that she only learned about years later and then there was her son. It hurt her heart to think that she had failed her children so badly. She felt like nothing she did mattered. She knew this feeling was temperary but after all she had been through she was just tired.

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